Fantasy Hockey: Available Injury Replacements

The playoffs are in full swing, and the injuries keep on coming. The injury bug bit Evgeni Malkin, Henrik Sedin, Bobby Ryan, Matt Duchene, and Chris Kreider amongst others this week. Here are some players you should consider picking up to help fill the void.

Forwards

David Desharnais (C – MTL) – owned in 17% of Yahoo leagues. The Canadiens have been white hot. They are winners of 5 straight ad 8 of 9, including victories over the Bruins, Avalanche, and Red Wings, and Desharnais has been a big part of that. He has 3 goals and 8 assists over that stretch.

Tomas Tatar (LW – DET) – owned in 14% of Yahoo leagues. Tatar has made good use of his added ice time in the wake of the Wings’ myriad injuries. He’s posted 4 goals and 3 assists in the past 6 games. He numbers don’t pop off the charts at you, but he’s a steady contributor when given the chance.

Gustav Nyquist (RW – DET) – owned in 59% of Yahoo leagues. Nyquist falls into the category of stop everything you’re doing and go pick him up right now, even if you don’t have a void to fill. He has more goals in calendar 2014 than any player in the league. Yes, you read that right! Of his 26 goals on the season, 21 have come in 2014, 10 in March. He has posted 16 points in the Wings’ 15 March games. Need more convincing? His last game without a point was March 14th.

Defenseman

Jake Gardiner (D – TOR) – owned in 12% of Yahoo leagues. The Leafs have now lost 8 straight games, but Gardiner is trending up. He’s been the 6th most productive fantasy blue-liner over the past 2 weeks, just behind last week’s suggestion Ryan McDonagh (NOTE: if McDonagh is somehow available in your league, GO PICK HIM UP NOW!!). Gardiner put up 6 assists in 4 games for the slumping Leafs this week, posting at least one point in every game.

Goalie

Anton Khudobin (G – CAR) – owned in 36% of Yahoo leagues. Khudobin has been getting the bulk of the starts in the Canes’ crowded net, and he’s made the most of it. The team isn’t winning much, but Khudobin has stopped 155 of q63 shots he’s faced in the past 2 weeks, good for a .951 SV% and 1.65 GAA over that span.